The mistral may have blown in here yesterday but the World Cup favourites, New Zealand, who open their tournament at the Stade Vélodrome against Italy on Sunday, are feeling the heat to such an extent that their head coach, Graham Henry, has called on the organisers to ensure players are given drinks breaks during matches and he has hired a weather expert to provide forecasts for the next seven weeks.

Henry has spent most of his four-year reign fielding questions about the All Blacks' reputation as World Cup chokers. They have not won the competition for 20 years, despite being the favourites in all bar one since the inaugural tournament in 1987, and their main rivals this year, France and South Africa, have spent the past few weeks playing mind games.

Although most of France has had a summer to match Britain's the south has escaped the damp and the temperature on Sunday is expected to reach 30C (86F). "We have to be aware of the heat and make sure that there is plenty of water available for the players," said Henry. "There has to be a safety-first emphasis. I have spoken to the tournament organisers about this. There is a provision for a water break in each half if conditions are deemed unsafe for players and it has to be enforced."

Henry has hired Ken Ring, a New Zealander who produces weather forecasts based on the movements of the moon and planets, for the duration of the tournament. Among other things the data will be used to assist team selection.

"I was approached last week," said Ring. "The information is to go to Graham Henry, who might use it in deciding which players to pick in certain games. I made my predictions into a proper report with weather maps."

The lock Keith Robinson has been ruled out of Saturday's opener because of a calf strain. Henry said: "He is getting the best treatment available and has a very positive attitude. We're hoping he will be ready in a couple of weeks."

Australia have turned to science in their efforts to regain the trophy and have undergone drug-testing by the World Anti-Doping Agency on the instruction of the International Rugby Board - not their 30 players but the jerseys they will be wearing, which have been described as "revolutionary bionic jumpers". The jerseys, which are ion-charged, have been approved for the Wallabies' opener against Japan in Lyon on Saturday. The material in the jerseys reacts with sweat to create a negative ion charge that stimulates blood flow, bringing more energy to muscles and speeding up the removal of lactic acid.

The Australia head coach, John Connolly, has told his players that anyone suspected of substance abuse will face an immediate drug test. "I have seen no evidence of drug-taking in the 18 months I have been in charge," he said, "but if there was a remote possibility of it the bloke would be tested immediately. We have the ability to do random or controlled tests."